Oh, Max, I usually hang on every delightful word you write—and even agree with you!
But after reading last week’s column “Gobble, gobble...but surely not votes?” I am afraid I fell off the wagon.
I mean let’s face your “fake facts,” OK? Thanksgiving is not earlier in Canada because we are farther north, not at all! For most of our history, it’s been in November, occasionally in late October and once even on April 5 in 1872 to celebrate the Prince of Wales not dying.
From the Anglo perspective, Canada’s first Thanksgiving occurred in 1578 during Martin Frobisher’s third expedition looking for the fabled north-west passage—and he was actually, truly, a real pirate! I figure that both the earlier historical date and the pirate “cool” factor totally demolishes any “first thanksgiving” claims made by American pilgrims in 1621.
But hey, this being Canada, there is an equally good chance that the Spanish celebrated Canada’s first Thanksgiving on the B.C. coast about 30 years before Frobisher. Canadian history can be like that...
In 1921, Thanksgiving Day was observed on Nov. 11 alongside Armistice (now Remembrance) Day, but then in 1957, it was finally decided it should be held on the second Monday of every October. I hope this has cleared things up.
Now, as far as you dissing our present premier goes...
Peter Vogler // Vancouver
Reaching out to reassure parents
Being a parent in a pandemic comes with a lot of challenges and public health officials are here to help.
Public health has a long history of working collaboratively to promote and protect the health of our school communities. Like every year, we will support our teachers and education staff to make this return to school successful.
The robust school safety plans currently in place across the province are designed to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 in school settings.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Public Health teams actively monitor and trace cases of COVID-19 in schools on a 24/7 basis. Our immediate priority for every known case is to identify people who have been their close contacts during the infectious period, to notify these contacts and then to ensure that all contacts are following the appropriate public health directions for self-isolation.
Whether in schools or in other settings, VCH Public Health notifies all contacts of cases exposed to COVID-19 in the most direct manner possible. This is the most effective contact tracing practice—it allows Public Health to provide clear direction to those contacts while respecting patient confidentiality, which is important for the effective management of the pandemic.
When there has been exposure of classrooms or cohorts of students and staff in a school setting, we work with the school administrator to quickly send an email and letter to notify the staff and students (or their parents) identified as contacts. VCH Public Health will follow-up directly with all contacts who receive a notification in order to provide further public health advice. All notifications to school administrators—including school exposure and outbreaks—are posted to the VCH school exposure webpage at vch.ca/covid-19/school-exposures.
Schools are part of our communities—and a safe community means a safe school. That is why we in public health will continue to promptly and appropriately respond to cases, clusters and outbreaks of COVID-19 to ensure our communities, and the schools in them, remain at low risk for COVID-19 transmission.
COVID-19 will be around for months to come—and public health officials will be here with us through it all.
Dr. Patricia Daly, VCH Chief Medical Health Officer and Dr. Bonnie Henry // Provincial Health Officer
Honour the Sisters in Spirit Vigil
The beautiful resort of Whistler is on shared traditional territory of Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation.
Oct. 4 is the day we honour the Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirited people who have gone missing or have been murdered in Canada. To date, there have been more than a thousand. Injustice for Indigenous peoples in Canada still exists today.
Since 2014, I have organized the Whistler’s Sisters in Spirit vigil honouring the women who have passed over several decades. I represent the Native Women’s Association of Canada and Howe Sound Women’s Centre. The vigil provides support for grieving families and creates opportunities for healing. The community comes together and the connection to culture and humanity is apparent and extremely special for all attendees.
As a longtime local, most of you know I am on my own healing journey and now in this world of uncertainty due to COVID-19, there will be no Sisters in Spirit Vigil on Oct. 4.
However, on Oct. 4, I encourage you to remember those lost.
Prior to the vigil, I typically install red dresses around Whistler, which signifies an Indigenous life lost. I am grateful for all the businesses that have supported this in the past. Thank you. It means a lot to myself and the families.
If by chance you see a red dress hanging this year in Whistler, take the time to reflect on the significance and understand together we can all forge a new path to positive change. There is strength in unity and by uniting for a common cause we draw attention to this Canadian human rights emergency.
I welcome you to, please: Light a candle in your home window this evening, change your social media avatar to a commemorative graphic, support the Amnesty International letter campaign calling for a National Action Plan on MMIWG2S, and walk around the village, find a red dress hanging and take a picture and post on social media using the hashtags #SISVigils and #MMIWG. Tag on Twitter at @NWAC_CA and Facebook
at Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Please join the Whistler’s Sisters in Spirit Facebook page.
Oct. 4 is a day where we honour Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people as well as support their families. We need to give voice to their experiences. Your support is important. Together we are part of a movement for social change!
Linda Epp, Sechelt Nation // Whistler
